Athens Flying Week 2015 will be holding its annual airshow is this weekend! Now in its fourth year, the two day event is set to wow the public with amazing aerobatics and airshow performances high in the Mediterranean sky.
The AFW weekend air show is taking place at the Tatoi Airport airfield on September 12 and 13. AFW is the major event for #avgeeks in Greece and has successfully opened up the world of aviation to the Greek public. AFW also hosts an annual conference which is an annual meeting point for professional aviators. The Tatoi military airport opens its gates to the public just for the unique air show.
One major star is Greek helicopter pilot Dimitris Ververelis. He earned the industry nickname of “The Wizard” thanks to his impressive flying skills. After serving in the Hellenic Army Special Forces he became a paragliding instructor before leaving Greece to attend flight school in the United States. He is the first Greek pilot to perform a televised full loop with a helicopter. His air displays for the Wizard Heli Solo Display include backward movements with quick changes of heading, back and front pirouettes, 90 degree climbs, 360 vertical dives, dog turns and full down auto rotations. Check out All About Aviation.gr’s interview with “The Wizard” here.
Ververelis couldn’t do it without a great team behind him including Capt. George M. Hiotakis who is the Team Manager of Wizard Heli Solo Display. Hiotakis is an essential part of the planning when it comes to the amazing aerobatic maneuvers that are performed at AFW. Ververelis and Hiotakis work with chief mechanic Elias Koudounakos to fine tune the helicopter and offer an 100 percent fun and safe spectacle for the crowd.
Hiotakis recently told All About Aviation.gr, “At times I feel like I am managing a Formula-1 team, and it feels amazing!” Check out the recent interview here.
Also not to miss is INSANE World Champion and glider aerobatic pilot Luca Bertossio. He will be at AFW airshow on both days. He performs glider aerobatics as competitor for the Italian National Glider Aerobatic Team and as a professional airshow pilot for the company Red Bull. You can check out his skills on this YouTube video.
Greece’s premier airshow will offer a full lineup of solo and team aerobatics and airshow performances. Here are a few listed on the schedule.
HELLENIC AIR FORCE
ATHENIAN AVIATORS COLLECTION
AIRCLUB OF ROMANIA / “HAWKS OF ROMANIA”
LUCA BERTOSSIO – RED BULL SOLO GLIDER / CITIZEN Watches co.
VERVERELIS “Wizard” DIMITRIS / WARTER – VOSTOK
MIG29 DEMO TEAM / POLISH AIR FORCE
HELLENIC NAVY HELICOPTER COMMAND
Athens Flying Week
https://www.athensflyingweek.gr/
September 12 & 13
Tickets start at 6 Euro
Tatoi Airfield, north of Athens in Decelea
Will you be heading to the Athens Flying Week airshow this weekend? Who are you looking forward to seeing in the sky?
